Comparison of Several Turning Frequencies During the Storage Period of Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Hatching Eggs

The effects of three egg-turning regimes during the pre-incubation storage period on egg weight loss, hatchability, embryonic mortality, chick weight at hatching and incubation length of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) compared with unturned eggs were investigated. Two hundred eggs were allocated to four 50-egg batches stored at 15ºC and 80% RH that being turned one, four and 24 times a day or remaining unturned, respectively. Eggs were incubated at 37.8ºC and 55% RH during the first 21 days and at 37.5ºC and 75% RH until hatching. Fertility was 70.5% and a good hatchability performance was obtained, characterised by 81.6% hatchability of fertile eggs, and weight losses of 0.78% during storage and of 10.04% during the first 21 days of incubation, 13.6 ±0.1 g hatchling weight, and incubation length of 23.45 ± 0.07 days (mean ± SEM). Hatchability, embryonic mortality developmental stage, egg weight loss during storage and incubation, hatchling weight and length of the incubation period were not affected by the turning frequency or the absence of turning during storage. Higher hatching synchrony was observed for eggs turned four times a day compared with unturned eggs and eggs turned once a day. In conclusion, turning red-legged partridge eggs during medium-term storage periods does not improve egg viability compared with unturned eggs.(AU)

Comparison of Several Turning Frequencies During the Storage Period of Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Hatching Eggs

The effects of three egg-turning regimes during the pre-incubation storage period on egg weight loss, hatchability, embryonic mortality, chick weight at hatching and incubation length of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) compared with unturned eggs were investigated. Two hundred eggs were allocated to four 50-egg batches stored at 15ºC and 80% RH that being turned one, four and 24 times a day or remaining unturned, respectively. Eggs were incubated at 37.8ºC and 55% RH during the first 21 days and at 37.5ºC and 75% RH until hatching. Fertility was 70.5% and a good hatchability performance was obtained, characterised by 81.6% hatchability of fertile eggs, and weight losses of 0.78% during storage and of 10.04% during the first 21 days of incubation, 13.6 ±0.1 g hatchling weight, and incubation length of 23.45 ± 0.07 days (mean ± SEM). Hatchability, embryonic mortality developmental stage, egg weight loss during storage and incubation, hatchling weight and length of the incubation period were not affected by the turning frequency or the absence of turning during storage. Higher hatching synchrony was observed for eggs turned four times a day compared with unturned eggs and eggs turned once a day. In conclusion, turning red-legged partridge eggs during medium-term storage periods does not improve egg viability compared with unturned eggs.

Effects of egg position in artificial incubation of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix japonica)

Incubation procedures are important for maintenance and improvement of quail egg production. Many factors can interfere with the success of incubation or the quality of hatched chicks. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the effects of different positions and turning during artificial incubation of Japanese quail eggs on hatchability, egg weight loss, chick weight, and embryonic mortality. Eighty Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used for egg collection. Six hundred eggs were divided into four experimental groups (n = 150), according to their position during incubation: vertical position with small end up, vertical position with small end down, horizontal position without turning, and horizontal position with turning. Incubation process was done by automatic hatcheries with temperature of 37.5ºC and relative humidity of 60%. All eggs were weighed on their collection day and during incubation period to verify egg weight loss. All quail chicks were weighed at hatch. The eggs incubated in horizontal position with turning had the highest hatchability (77%), while the ones incubated in vertical position with small end up presented the lowest hatchability (8%). Egg position and turning influenced water loss during incubation. The groups with better hatchability presented lower egg weight loss and better hatch weight. The infertility-early embryo death was similar to the late embryo death in the eggs incubated in horizontal position with turning, while in the groups incubated in static position, the late embryo death was higher. The late embryo death was considered the main cause of mortality in the groups incubated in horizontal position without turning (31%), vertical position with small end down (24%) and vertical position with small end up (70%).(AU)

Effects of egg position in artificial incubation of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix japonica)

Incubation procedures are important for maintenance and improvement of quail egg production. Many factors can interfere with the success of incubation or the quality of hatched chicks. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the effects of different positions and turning during artificial incubation of Japanese quail eggs on hatchability, egg weight loss, chick weight, and embryonic mortality. Eighty Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used for egg collection. Six hundred eggs were divided into four experimental groups (n = 150), according to their position during incubation: vertical position with small end up, vertical position with small end down, horizontal position without turning, and horizontal position with turning. Incubation process was done by automatic hatcheries with temperature of 37.5ºC and relative humidity of 60%. All eggs were weighed on their collection day and during incubation period to verify egg weight loss. All quail chicks were weighed at hatch. The eggs incubated in horizontal position with turning had the highest hatchability (77%), while the ones incubated in vertical position with small end up presented the lowest hatchability (8%). Egg position and turning influenced water loss during incubation. The groups with better hatchability presented lower egg weight loss and better hatch weight. The infertility-early embryo death was similar to the late embryo death in the eggs incubated in horizontal position with turning, while in the groups incubated in static position, the late embryo death was higher. The late embryo death was considered the main cause of mortality in the groups incubated in horizontal position without turning (31%), vertical position with small end down (24%) and vertical position with small end up (70%).